NCAA: Leading on head injuries safety

Since its inception, the NCAA has been committed to student-athlete health and safety. More than 100 years later, our commitment to protecting student-athletes is as strong as it has ever been.

The NCAA has partnered with the Department of Defense on a landmark $30 million initiative, including the most comprehensive study of concussion and head impact exposure ever conducted. This is especially important because of limited evidence-based data regarding concussion.

Indeed, leading concussion scientists agree that we do not understand the natural history of concussion. This study not only will address the natural history of concussion but also assess advanced research.

Another important part of the NCAA-DoD initiative includes launching an educational grand challenge to all NCAA schools and the public to identify effective research and learning techniques to improve concussion reporting.

This is critical because no published studies tell us if education and knowledge change the behavior of, and culture related to, student-athletes and all other stakeholders.

However, we are not waiting for absolute results from that research before enacting new strategies to generate a culture change. Just last month, we released three important inter-association safety guidelines endorsed by 11 prominent medical organizations.

The football practice contact guidelines additionally are endorsed by four sports organizations. The 15 endorsing organizations recognize the current limitations yet agree these consensus guidelines are a prudent way to move forward.

Also last month, we presented to a federal court a $70 million proposed settlement for concussion testing and diagnosis of current and former NCAA student-athletes. The agreement's proactive measures are designed to provide student-athletes access to high-quality medical care by experienced physicians.

The NCAA's goal with all these efforts is to instigate advancements about how student-athletes, parents, coaches and medical providers approach concussions. As such, we will continue to promote and develop concussion safety now and for the future for the sake of our student-athletes.